Side frame for car trucks



Jan. 15, 1929.

' F. w. LEWIS SIDE FRAME FOR CAR TRUCKS" Filed Dec. 1, 1927 s Sheets-Shet 1' Jan.l5,l929f F.wnLEns SIDE. FRAME FOR GAR TRUCKS Filed 086.1, 1927 s Shgets-Sheet 2 will; I

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Jan. 15, 1929.

' F. w. LEWIS SIDE FRAME FOR GAR. TRUCKS Fild Dec. 1, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet d ll Patented Jan 15, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK W. LEWIS, OF DAVEITPORT, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE BETTENDORF COMPANY, OF IBETTENDORF. IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

SIDE FRAME FOR GAB TRUCKS.

Application filed December 1, 1927. Serial 110.286.915-

This invention relates to side frames for car trucks and has for its object to provide a one piece side frame in which the tension and compression members are so constructed and so joined at the ends of theframe that the compression and tension stresses are sub- Further objects are to simplify and les son the cost of manufacture of the side frame castings by providmg structure which may be made wlth simpler and more easily positioned cores and further to pro;

ride a casting of such form that in the casting operation, the molten metal flows readily to all portions of the casting so that fewer flaws are developed in the casting operation.

Nith the above and other objects in View,

the invention may be said to comprise the structure as illustrated in the accompanying drawing hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims together with such variations and 1!1()(llll(l1 tions thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention appcrtains.

-lteferenco should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentaryside elevation showing one-half of a side frame embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line indi cated at 2-42 in Fig. 1.

3 is a section taken on the line indicated at 8-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. is atop plan View of frame shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a top plan View showing the modified construction.

*6 is a side elevation of the frame shown in Fig.

in the accompanying drawings, one-half only of the side frame is shown since the opposite ends of the frame are identical, as well understood in the art. The side frame of the present invention is a one piece casting'of. truss form having an arched compression member 1, and a tension member El, which merge into an extension at each a portion of the end of theframe to which a journal box 4 1s integrally united. The tension member 2 has a horizontal central portion 5 to which is attached the spring plank which provides a seat for the bolster supporting springs. The central portion 5 of the tension memher is connected ateach end with the co pression member and with the extension through an upwardly inclined end portion 6. Each of the tension members is connected with the compression member 1 by an integral column 7 adjacent opposite ends of the central portion .5 and connecting. the lower inner ends of the inclined portions 6 to the compression member, the column forming the opposite sides of the bolster window. The compression member as shown in Fig. 2 is of channel form in cross section having a web 8 on the upper side thereof and vertical side walls 9 depending from lthe web and terminating in inturned flanges 10.

As shown in Fig. 3, tension member 2 is also of channel form and cross section, havf ing on its upper side a web 11 and having vertical side walls 12 winch depend from the web 11 and terminate at the lower edges 111 inturncd flanges 13.' The side walls of the compression and tension members 1 and 2 merge into each other and into the side walls of the projecting end portions 3 at each end of the frame, both the compres sion member and tension member having flaring ends and the projecting end portion of the frame having side walls which are relatively deep as compared to the side walls of the compression and tension member and which are integrally joined to the journal.

boxes 4 across the to of the box and part way down the inner sides thereof. The web 11 of the tension member is continued past the point where the tension member merges into the projecting end portion and extends integrally with the side walls up over the top of the journal box, the projecting portion of the web being spaced from the j ournal box and also from the web 8'of the compression member. The projecting end portionl l of the web 11 is bifurcated at 15 to provide progressively tapering ribs 16, which merge at their ends into the side walls of the end ortions 3 substantially over the center of t e ournal box. The end portions of the extending ribs 16 are curved downwardly away from the web 8 and these ribs terminate substantially at the intersection of the projected neutral axes of the compression and tension members. of the compression anember l is curved downwardly toward the outer edge of the journal box andthis web is also bifurcated at 17 to provideprogressively tapering ribs 18 which merge into the side walls of the member 23 substantially at the outer edge of the journal box. Y

The side frame is preferably provided adjacent the upper ends ofthe columns 7 with inwardly. projecting brake beam brackets 19 and the upper portions of the columns 7 are formed to provide bolster guides 20 as is common practice in the art.

' from the tension member past the journal box along a line, spaced from the box and thereby distribute the stresses over the top of the journal box in such-a manner that the load is imposed substantially centrally of the journal box without crowning or.

otherwise distorting the journal box. The recessed ends of the tension and compression webs are longitudinally oifset with respect to each other, the tension web terminating substantially. beneath the inner end of the bi'furcation'of the tension web. The tapering ribs forming the end portions of the tension and compression webs serve to more evenly distribute the stresses at ,the'end of the frame and protect the journalbox from,

forces which would otherwise create dis toi'tions therein; The bifurcated ends of the webs alsoprovide an open end for the castingabove the journal box and greatly simplify the construction of the molds and in- V sure proper distribution of metal in the molds so that castings can be more economicallymanufactured with less danger of flaws or cracks in the casting Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing illustrate a modified form of the invention in which the projecting end portion of the frame above the journal box is of slightly different construction. Y

' In this modification, the compression web 8 terminates substantially above the center of the journal box and the extension 14 of the tension web is arched over the top of the journal box and terminates at the outer edge thereof. The web 8 is bifurcated at 17 at its end to provide outwardly taperlng ribs 182 which merge into the side walls directly over the center of thejournal box. The extension 14* of the tension web is bifurcated at 15 at its end to provide tapering ribs 1 6., which merge into the side The web 8- walls substantially at the point where the side walls join the top of the journal box at its outer edge. The longitudinally offset bifurcations .of the tension and compression webs shown in Figs. 5 and 6 serve to distribute'the stresses substantially in the same way as in the modification first described and provide an open ended casting-with the same advantages incident to the construction molds and the casting operation.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular form of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth, are presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and that various modifications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without de arting from my invention .as defined. in tli claims.

lVhat I claim is:

e appended- 1. A truck frame having journal boxes at the ends thereof, said frame having top and bottom compression and tension members cast in one piece, said members being channel shaped in cross section with their webs on the upper sides thereof, the web of the tension member projecting into the space between the tops of the journal boxes and the web of the compression member and terminating below the latter.

2. 'A truck frame having journal boxes at the ends thereof, said frame having top and bottom compression and tension members cast in one piece, said members being channel shaped in cross section with their webs on the upper sides thereof, the web of the tension member projecting into the space between the tops of the journal boxes and the web of the compression member and terminating below thelatter, the projected intersection of the neutral axes of the compression and tension members lying in the extended web of said tension member.

3. A truck frame having journal boxes at the ends thereof, said frame having top and bottom compression and tension members cast in one piece, said members being channel shaped in cross section with their webs on the upper sides thereof, the web of the tension member havin extensions integral with the side walls of the tension member and terminating in curved tapering ribs belowthe web of the compression member.

4. A truck frame having journal boxes at the ends thereof, said frame having top and Inc bottom compression and tension members cast in one piece, said members being channel shaped in cross section with their webs on the upper sides thereof, the web of the tension member being bifurcated to provide extensions integralfwiththe side walls of the tension member and terminatin in curved tapering ribs bGIOW the web of the compression member, said. ribs merging into the side walls at points directly over the centers, of said journal boxes and substantially at the projected intersections of the neutral axes of said members.

' 5. A unitary cast truckframe' having integral journal boxes at the ends thereof, said frame comprising a compression member and a tension member, each of channel form'with the web of the channel on its upper side, said frame having end portions with relatively deep side walls into which the side walls of the tension and compression members merge and which are integrally joined the web of the channel on its upper side,

I said frame having end portions with relatively deep side walls into which the side walls of the tension and compression members merge and WhlCh are integrally oined to the journal boxes across the tops, the web of thetension member having a curved extension integral with the side walls above each journal box, each of said extensions lyingbetween the web of the compression member and the top of a journal box and spaced from both, the side walls of said tension and compression members having inturned lower edges.

7. A unitary cast truck frame having. in-

tegralrjpurnal boxes at the ends thereof, said framecomprising a compression member and a tension member, each of channel form with the web of the channel on its upper side, said frame having end portions with relativelyv deep side walls into which the side walls'of the tension and compression mem-' bers merge. and which are integrally joined to the journal boxes across the tops, the web of the tension member-having a curved extension integral with the side walls above each jouri al box, each of said extensions lying between the web of the compression member and the top of a journal box and spaced from both, said webs terminating short of the ends of the frame, the end of one web being offset with respect to the end ofthe other.

8. A unitary cast truck frame having integral journal boxes at the ends thereof, said framecomprising a. compression member and a tension member, each of channel form with the web of the channel on its upper side, said frame having end portions with relatively dee side walls into which the side walls of t 'e tension and compression members merge and which are integrally joined to the journal boxes across the tops, the

web of the tension member having a curved extension integral with the side walls above each journal box, each of said extensions lying between the web of the compression member and the top of a journal box and spaced from both, the webs of the tension andcompression members being bifurcated to provide extensions in the'form of taper bers merge and which are integrally joined to the journal boxes across the tops, the web of the tension member having a curved extension integral'with the side walls above each journal box, each of said extensions lying between the web of the compression member and the top of a journal box and spaced from both, the webs of the tension and compression members being bifurcated to provide'extensions in-the form oftaper-.

ing ribs merging into the side walls, the ends of the webs at each end of the frame being longitudinally offset with respect to eac other.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK W. LEWIS. 

